Silence Speaking Louder Than Words

<p>Trials 2,3, and 4</p><p>Pilate to Herod to Pilate</p><p>Lies and deceptions, pressure and rioting of the mob prevail over justice</p><p>Herod finds no fault, Pilate declare Jesus innocent 3 times:</p><p>            Innocent of charges brought against him of insurrection against Rome</p><p>            Innocent of leading people astray</p><p>            Innocent of anything deserving death</p><p>The rioting mob</p><p>Look at the people involved: Barabbas and what he experiences</p><p>Simon and the cross</p><p>The weeping women</p><p>Those not involved, both multitude of people and secret leaders</p><p>The evil doers are not named!</p><p>The two criminals who observed what was happening</p><p>All in the space of ca. 8 hours – not even 24 hours have passed from the Passover meal they had shared.</p><p>In this time Jesus responds to Pilate once to say what others say, not what he is saying about himself. He is not denying it but also leaves it up to each individual to make that decision!  He still does!</p><p>He then speaks to the Women and the multitudes differently: he is back in prophet mode, and the women are a type of Jerusalem and what will happen, fulfilling the prophecy of Hosea 10:8.</p><p>What are the effects on the people involved?</p><ol><li>We cannot shift the blame to the Jews or Rome, averting the consequences of an innocent one dying for our sins.  The blame falls squarely on sinners, as Jesus becomes sin for us!</li><li>Pilate is making a judgement call that is expedient due to the circumstances, not based on fact or truth</li><li>The leaders know that they are lying and hiding from facts, outright sin with consequences</li><li>The mob is bloodthirsty, (followers of Barabbas?) and caught up in the emotion of the hour</li><li>The soldiers are doing duty and want to keep crowd control</li><li>Herod wants to see miracles that he had heard about, but find no fault, is just disappointed</li><li>Multitude is impotent to do anything, fear and grief stricken</li><li>Simon is honored as a proselyte to carry